AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill
Eastern European restaurant · Capitol Hill ·
Unlimited Balkan small plates & regional spirits in chic digs
![AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill by Ambar [official site]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62551684/ambarflatbread.12.jpg "AMBAR Restaurant, Capitol Hill by Ambar [official site]")
Unlimited Balkan small plates & regional spirits in chic digs
"This all-you-can-eat Balkans restaurant has a bit of a cult following. So much, in fact, that they’ve had to put a cap on how long you can stay. And while the tables have a hard cut off at 120 min, know that you can put away a lot of mezze in that time. The largely vegetarian menu is a set price ($33 for lunch, $37 for brunch, $50 for dinner) no matter how much or how little you eat. Each dish is just a few bites, so you can try a bit of everything—though if you’re like us, you’ll want two orders of the halloumi coated with black and white sesame seeds, crunchy cauliflower with tahini pesto, and the cheesy mushroom crepe. Wash it down with some rakia, a classic Balkan spirit made from distilled fermented fruits like pears and pomegranates.TheCapitol Hill, Shaw, and Clarendon locations are all part of the Link & Dine program." - Team Infatuation
"Capitol Hill’s resident Balkan restaurant underwent a multi-million dollar renovation during the pandemic, but didn’t change a thing about its beloved bottomless brunch ($36.99 with unlimited drinks starting at $14.99). Popular orders that keep coming (for two hours) include potato hash, meze platters, prosciutto or salmon Benedict, beet tzatziki, and cinnamon sourdough, all designed to be washed down with bottomless mango hibiscus mimosas and Bloody Marys. Opt for seating across its expanded patio, indoors, or on a retractable rooftop on the third floor. An additional outpost in Clarendon is joined by a newer location in Shaw." - Tierney Plumb
"While some bottomless brunch places can let a little too loose, Ambar manages to strike a balance between a great value and an atmosphere that's just lively enough. Prices vary by location: at the Capitol Hill outpost (our favorite), the unlimited menu is $36.99 per person and an additional $12.99 each for never-ending beverages. The menu includes lots of Balkan-inspired dishes—we usually start with the beet tzatziki, beef prosciutto benedict, and cinnamon sweet truffle sourdough, paired with Nutella or jam and drizzled with powdered sugar." - mekita rivas, omnia saed, tristiana hinton
"This all-you-can-eat Balkans restaurant has a bit of a cult following. So much, in fact, that they’ve had to put a cap on how long you can stay. And while the tables have a hard cut off at 120 min, trust us that you can put away a lot of mezze in that time. The largely vegetarian menu is a set price ($28 for lunch, $37 for brunch, $50 for dinner) no matter how much or how little you eat. Each dish is just a few bites, so you can try a bit of everything—though if you’re like us, you’ll want two orders of the halloumi coated with black and white sesame seeds, crunchy cauliflower with tahini pesto, and the cheesy mushroom crepe. Wash it down with some rakia, a classic Balkan spirit made from distilled fermented fruits like pears and pomegranates. Like a lot of the restaurants on Barracks Row, the inside of Ambar is no-fuss, which is probably why most people opt for outdoor seating or an upstairs booth. photo credit: Nina Palazzolo photo credit: Nina Palazzolo photo credit: Nina Palazzolo photo credit: Nina Palazzolo Pause Unmute" - Madeline Weinfield
"The Balkan brand’s generous happy hour offers food starting at $5 and drinks from $6. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, fill up on Balkan specialities like urnebes dip, Ambar fries, drunken mussels and more. Pair up dishes with a $7 glass of Moldovan wine or a cocktail like the bar’s Old Fashioned ($8), made with plum rakia and bourbon. Drinks are discounted all day on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Capitol Hill original is joined by a newer D.C. location in Shaw and a Clarendon, Virginia outpost." - Tierney Plumb